Hoe.



J. B. BTHERIDGE.

HOE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1912 Patented May 6, 1913.

the other cut-ofi is move JOHN BLAKELEY ETHERIDGE, OF HALLSVILLE, TEXAS.

HOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-May e, 1913.

Application filed November 20, 1912. Serial No. 732,557.

To all viz-0m it may concemr:

Be it known that I, JOHN BPETHEIRIDGE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Hallsville, in the county of Harrison and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation'to garden hoes used for weeding purposes and-which at the same time may be utilized for dropping seed, the handle of the implement being hollow to receive a quantity of seed and having a mechanism applied thereto for controlling the delivery of the seed as may be required. The invention relates most especially to the seed controlling mechanism, whereby the same may be applied to diflerent hoes or is made adjustable to suit the convenience of the gardener or person using the implement.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed outin the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal'section of a garden hoe embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line %n% of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail .view of a modification. Fig. 4 is 'a further modification. Fig. 5 is a modification showing means for varying the discharge of the seed. Fig. 6 is a section on the line y-g of Fig. 5.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The implement comprises the usual handle l and blade 2. In accordance with this invention the handle 1 is bored or formed with an opening to receive the seed and to direct such seed when released into the opening provided in the ground for its reception. A mechanism is provided upon the handle at a convenient point for regulating the discharge of the seed, such mechanism embodying a lever 3 and cut-ofls 4 and 5. The cut-offs 4 and 5 are arranged to operate through openings formed in a side of the handle 1 and have connection with the lever 3 upon opposite sides of its pivotal support so that when one cut-ofi is (pressed inward spring 6 normally holds the cut-0E 5 pressed outward. A.v

inward. This spring may be of an, construction andarrangement. The free end of the lever 3 is adapted to be pressed ,in- Ward, thereby rojecting the cut-ofi 4across the opening ot the handle lfland withdrawing the cut-cit 5 so that the seed contained in the handle between the cut-offs 4 and 5 may pass through the lower portion of the handle into the ground.

The cut-off '4 is yieldably connected with the lever 3 so that in the event of its inner end catching a seed the lever 3 may be moved so as to completely withdraw the cut-off 5 from the path of the seed confined in the handle between the two cut-oils so that the seed thus released may have a free passage through the lower portion of the handle to the ground. A slot 7 is formed in the cutofi' 4 and the lever 3 passes therethrough. A spring '8 is located in the slot 7 and is con fined between the lower end thereof and the lever. In the event of the inner end of the cut-off 4 catching upon a seed when pressing the freeend of the lever 3 inward said lever may continue to move so as to completely withdraw the cut-off 5 from the opening of the handle, the spring 8 being pressed to admit of such movement of the lever. The lever 3 may be pivotally connected to the handle in any mannerand as shown a clamp 9 is fitted to the handle and is. adjustable thereon. This construction admits of placing the regulating mechanism at any convenient position upon the handle.

In some instances it may be desirable to locate the seed controlling mechanism near the lower end of the handle and to place the,

operating part near the upper end of the handle,.the two being connected by means of a wire or like part 10, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,-

the advantages of the construction and of the method of o eration will be readily apparent to those skil ed in the art to which'the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together'with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the, device shown is merely illustrative, and that such chan es may be made when desired as are.

within the scope ofthe claims appended thereto.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 provision is had for adjusting thezdistanoe between the cut-ofis 4 and '5 so, as to va 7 the amount of seed to bedeposited in a hi1 through which the cut-ofi 4 operates.

to be remembered that the lever'3 passesloosely through the slot 7 of the cut-off 4, hence movement of the clamp sleeve 12 on the handle fixes the position of the cut-oil 4 with reference to the lever 3.

Ha'vin thus described the invention wha is claime as new, is

1. In a garden hoe the combination of a handle having an'opening therethrough, a lever mounted upon the handle, a cut-01f having connection with the lever, and ada ted to operate through a lateral opening 0 the handle, a second cutofl? arranged to operate through another opening in the side of the oewe? handle and f rovided with a slot through which the be ore mentioned lever passes, and

aspiring interposed between the said lever and the slotted cut-0E to form a yielding connection bet-ween the two.

2. In'combination with a hollow handle having an opening and a slot in a side thereof, means for covering the slot and having an opening therein and adapted to be secured to the handle in adjusted positions, cut-offs adapted to operate through the opening of the handle and the opening of the covering means, the distance between the cut-offs beingadjustable to vary the discharge, and an operating lever for actuating the cut-oils. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, JNO. BLAKELEY ETHERIDGE. Witnesses:

TOM H. Ernnnmen, J r., J. O. HILL. 

